Toronto Rock forward Kim Squire has contracted flesh-eating disease, but expects to make a full recovery.

"Kid Rock" apparently picked up the infection, formally known as necrotizing fascitis, from a cut he suffered on his right hand Friday night.

By Sunday morning, his hand had swollen significantly and he was taken to Brantford (ON) General Hospital for treatment. He soon was sent to St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, where doctors diagnosed the infection as flesh-eating disease.

Squire underwent a pair of surgeries on his hand this week, on Sunday and again on Tuesday, in an attempt to limit the spread of the bacteria. The procedures appear successful, but the wound will be left open until doctors are certain that Squire is cured.

"He is going to be fine," his mother, Shirley, tells the reservation newspaper Turtle Island News. "There was no nerve damage, no muscle, tendon, ligaments were damaged. He expects to be playing for the Rock when the season starts."

Necrotizing fascitis is caused by bacteria rapidly destroy the body's tissues. As the tissue dies, gangrene sets in. Without prompt treatment, death is likely; however, Squire sought medical care early enough to prevent the most serious complications.

However, Squire's window of opportunity to avoid death or permanent injury was closing fast when he went to the hospital in Brantford.

"Another twelve hours and we could have lost him," Shirley Squire said.

This is not the first time Squire has had a brush with death. In January 2000, Squire and brother Rodd were driving home from a Rock practice in Grimsby, ON, when their pickup truck was struck by another vehicle and rolled over several times. Although the Squires escaped serious injury, the other driver was killed.